Mobile firms don't need licence for TV: Trai

In a move detrimental to the interests of cable distribution and media companies, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has suggested that telecom operators can offer mobile television services to subscribers while others will need licence.

This means telecom companies that have the United Access Service Licence (UASL) agreement will automatically get permission to offer mobile TV to subscribers.

Trai, in a consultation paper on mobile TV, also says that telecom operators will have access to the television channels offered by the broadcasters as they are mentioned as distributors of TV channels under the authority's interconnection regulations. Stakeholders have 12 days to respond to the paper.

If the recommendations are accepted, several broadcasters, including the Zee group, which have expressed an interest in offering mobile TV leveraging their channels, will have to apply for fresh licences.

Jawahar Goel, managing director of Zee's DTH service Dish TV, said, "If telecom companies want to operate mobile TV or IPTV, either they should adhere to the rules and regulations that govern the broadcasting sector or the government should create a level-playing field between the telecom operators, broadcasters and cable companies."

The paper has asked stakeholders to respond to the regulatory issues related to mobile TV. To date, only public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has conducted trials for mobile TV

Internationally, mobile TV operators offer only a handful of channels (14-31) due to shortage of spectrum. Trai has sought comments on the minimum spectrum that should be blocked for the channels that will offer mobile TV services. The paper also seeks views on the foregin direct investment limits on mobile TV operators and the quantum of licence fee that should be charged from the companies seeking mobile TV licences.

Mobile television services are offered on handheld or portable devices such as mobile phones. The television content can be provided through the mobile telecommunications networks or broadcast technologies like satellite services.